Ask Well: Glucosamine and MSM for Joint Pain?

APeople have wildly conflicting opinions about the benefits of glucosamine, a compound found naturally in healthy joints, and MSM, short for methylsulfonylmethane.

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The upshot? “I tell people that if they want to spend their money” on glucosamine or MSM, “that’s up to them,” said Dr. Michael Parks, an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, who frequently treats patients with arthritis. At recommended doses, the supplements “are generally safe,” he said, “and some people do say that they make them feel better.”

But if you decide to experiment with the supplements, he advised, keep your expectations low. “In my experience, most people do not benefit.